TWENTY
SIDE STORY ~ SALMA

"So what do you think Sal is?"

For a moment Salma chose to shut up. Silence does not mean yes, it does not mean no. He was faced with a situation he had never imagined before. Between his parents' wishes and his heart's desire for the first time doesn't go in harmony.

"Salma?" The call from his ashes made Salma even more confused. He looked at her one by one, a face that was also staring at her expectantly.

To his left and right are Abi and uminya, while on the opposite side of his desk is a married couple who he knows is a friend of his parents. Not to forget also with a man who is none other than her future husband, eh has not Salma given his decision? So you could say the man has not become her future husband.

"Emmm, Salma doesn't know yet. Salma still needs time." After saying that, he lowered his head even more deeply. Afraid of seeing the reaction the people in front of him would give.

This was a big surprise for Salma. How not? The day after graduation, a couple came to meet and join for dinner. At first Salma thought they were just friends during Abi and uminya school, until finally came a man who apparently became the core topic of the family's arrival.

So here they are now. Sitting casually in the living room when in Salma's heart he did not feel relaxed in the least. He even felt tense himself.

"Oh that's it? Understandably. There was no wind there was no rain suddenly there was a family who would propose to him, surely Salma was still in shock," said the middle-aged woman who Salma knew was named Sintia.

"Yes, it's Sin! It wasn't just Salma who was shocked. I'm the same Mas Rifqi was also surprised to see you guys suddenly come to see you. Why did you come back from Egypt without saying anything?" umuk uminya Salma.

"Don't you make a surprise, wouldn't you?" Sintia seemed to be gently nudging her husband's arm.

"Yes. And the problem of this application is that we as a family do not force. If Salma isn't ready, it's nothing." Salma then looked up at Aunt Sintia's husband. It was unexpected that his response could be this warm. Salma thought she would be forced into such a matchmaking story that she often read in her collection novels.

Salma could only smile to reply to the understanding that had been given. But the speech from his ashes made him inevitably have to swallow his saliva rough.

"Well, so let's know if it fits. Why don't you just know each other? Three months is enough for you to get to know each other? After that, you decide how next. How's it?"

"If I were, Om. I don't know Salma." Salma who was named immediately looked up and looked at the man sitting right opposite her.

Arkan. He is a graduate of Al-Azhar University in Cairo. He worked as a lecturer in Egypt for a year and then moved to Indonesia a few weeks ago. When viewed from such qualifications, which parent disagrees? Even Salma saw a happy flash in Abi's and uminya's eyes. It felt unable when he would dim the twinkle in the eyes of his parents. 

"Yes Bi, Salma agrees." For a moment his gaze unintentionally collided with Arkan's smiling eyes looking at him meaningfully.  

****

Ting!

Salma opened her eyes again when she found her phone ringing. He who did not really fall asleep immediately realized with the notification of his phone. The impromptu application incident was over two hours ago. Even from a few minutes ago he tried to close his eyes, but could not. He kept thinking about what would happen if he was with someone he had even met for the first time.

Already sleeping?

Actually, in addition to the fact that he is not too familiar with Arkan, there is another reason why he hesitates about the application addressed to him earlier. That reason was none other than someone who was sending a message to him at this moment. Someone who has filled his heart space since a year ago.

Not Ren.

Call no?

Sure can.

And a second later a call came into his phone. The call from the contact named Rendi was directly Salma lifted. Don't forget he sat himself down and turned the room lights back on.

"Assynnya!"

"Glamma!"

"Why not sleep?"

"I don't know why. Sudden insomnia."

"Well, you're insomnia? Don't dong! Worry about it."

"Why indeed?"

"Entar if you're insomniac will forget me." Hearing him made Salma want to laugh.

"That's Rendi amnesia! It's insomnia. Difficult sleeping! Not forgetting memories."

"Well, is it different?" Actually Rendi knew that. He was not too stupid to tell the difference between insomnia and amnesia. He deliberately did to hear the laughter of Salma who seemed to have become opium for him.

"That's different!"

"Hehehe, thank God."

"Why?"

"Because you won't forget me."

"Oh."

"Just oh doang? Yeah, I'm closing the phone."

"Please." In Salma's heart laughed with satisfaction. Surely Rendi over there was pouting in annoyance.

"What then? Very unexpected." There was a tone of Rendi across there made-up pretentiously sad.

"Game!"

Shut up for a while. Salma chose to lean on the head of her bed. Just calling like this alone has made his heart improve. For a moment he forgot the match.

"Sal."

"Hmm" murmured Salma.

"Congratulations?"

"Yet. Why aren't you sleeping?"

"I don't know. Since then I have been so worried. Keep your mind. So I called straight away. You're afraid you're really doing something." Salma's heart warms up immediately. Does Rendi seem to have a hunch about Salma's mood that is not okay at this time?

"I'm fine." But my heart is not good. The connection in the heart.

"Thank God then. Then I can sleep in peace."

"Would you sleep?"

"No. Wait for you to sleep."

"But it's still hard Ren."

"Yes, now you're ready bobo. Turn off the room lights, pull the blankets, and put the phone on the nightstand. Let me read the letter of the Quran."

"Request Al Kahfi can be?"

"Can."

Then Salma did what Rendi suggested. After being ready with his sleeping position, he then told Rendi to start reading. And a few moments later began to sound a melodious voice Rendi chanting the holy verse of the Quran. Slowly but surely, Salma began to enter his subconscious. Just as Rendi finished the last verse, she heard the subtle snoring of the woman she loved. Soon he ended his call.

"Good sleep Salma! Have a good dream."

*****

"Where are you going Sal?" ask Arkan when the two of them have been in the car. In accordance with the agreement, then from today they began their respective self-introductions. After matching up with the Arkan schedule, then choose today to exit.

"So much as Arkan."

"What about the cafe? Have you had lunch?"

"Not yet."

"Yes, we're going there." And Salma answered him with a nod of the head.

Not until half an hour they have arrived in front of a cafe with a minimalist concept but still give the impression of luxury. Entering inside, it turns out this cafe gives the impression of comfort. They chose a seat around the glass window. Intentionally Salma chose there, in addition to being close to the traffic of people he also wanted to eat by looking at the street outside.

A few minutes later a waiter came and handed them a menu book. Arkan chose salads and guava juice, while Salma chose chicken curry and lemon tea ice.

"Are you sure you want that message? Not a lot of fat, is it?"

"Yes but it's good" replied Salma.

"You eat rich every day?" Salma nodded.

"Oh Allah, it is not healthy Sal. Are you afraid of high cholesterol? Or if you're not fat?" Salma immediately shook her head quickly. Who wants to have a disease?

"Well, don't you want to change the menu? Healthy ones like mine for example?"

Salma stared at Arkan. Then quietly sigh tiredly. "My orders are the same Ma'am!"

The servant took note and passed from before Salma and Arkan to prepare his order.

"Emm, are you busy now what Sal?" ask Arkan to start the conversation.

"Still looking for job vacancies anyway Mas. I just graduated yesterday." Honestly, in Salma's heart was still a little irritated because Arkan lent his unhealthy diet. No one has ever commented on the food. As long as it is lawful, it is lawful for Salma. But it's okay, Salma is trying to think positively. Maybe it is true that Arkan wants Salma to live a healthy life and that starts from his food.

"Oh yeah, aren't you also an education graduate?" Salma nodded at Arkan's guess. "I have a friend, he has a foundation. From SD to SMP. If you want I can recommend you to my friend."

"Eh, don't you! I want to go out on my own. Fear it'll be a hassle."

"No. It just so happened that my friend was looking for a new teacher at his Junior High School." Arkan still wants to help Salma.

"Salma find it for yourself first. Later if the like has not met, I think again the offer." The final answer was heard from Salma's mouth.

"Oh, yes, that's it."

Along with that the order came. Salma who is already hungry coupled with a bad mood immediately eat the food. But I didn't pray before that either. Just the first bribe, it feels like Salma just wants to cry. Not that Salma is typical of people who are anti-vegetable, but if the vegetables are raw this way it tastes Salma does not want to eat it. But he hurriedly remembered that he should not waste food. As a result, inevitably Salma must eat it.

"Have you never seen me before, Sal?"

"Not yet."

"I have been following you for a long time."

"Huh?"

"No! Not a rich stalker. To follow in sosmed you mean." Salma then nodded in understanding.

"I know your best friend too. Is that her name?"

"Yes. It's good that Arkan knows. Soon after I don't need any more acquaintances means."

"But I don't like your other best friend." Salma's busy hands mixing the salad on the plate instantly came to a halt.

A friend besides Nala? He thinks it's Rendi. Because the often wiri hero on his social media pages are indeed the two people. "Rendi means?"

"Hm. I think you two are too close for a best friend's size."

Salma is confused with Arkan. Nothing has interfered a lot in his affairs. And the matter is too close to Rendi? Even to get out there is always Nala. They never both came out.

"Hm." It was only this response that Salma let out.

A few moments later, the sound of the phone ringing broke their silence. Arkan who already understood that the ringtone from his phone immediately raised the call. Get Salma with Arkan on the phone with his co-worker. Because their conversation involves the word campus, teaching hours, and substitute lecturers. If from the conclusion of Salma, it can be ascertained that Arkan is asked by his colleagues to become a substitute lecturer.

"Salma, sorry! I have to go to college now. My friend got sick all of a sudden, so I had to replace him."

"Yes Mas. It's nothing." In Salma's heart he was cheering for sure.

"Do I take you home now?" bargain Arkan.

Salma immediately shook her head. "Not to Mas. I can take a taxi home later. The same house of Mas Arkan campus is also opposite direction."

"Oh yes already. Sorry yes!"

"Y-,"

"Salma?" Just now Arkan was about to move out of his desk. But the greeting of someone from behind Salma made Arkan undo his intentions.

"Eh, Nala!" As usual, the two women hugged each other.

"Hi Ren!" salma then went to Rendi.

"Who's Sal?" The question from Rendi immediately made Salma aware that Arkan was still standing in his place. Did you see Arkan whose face looks a bit dislike? I don't know. Salma didn't want to take that dizzy.

"Include," said Arkan as he extended his hand towards Rendi and immediately welcomed the hand of Rendi anyway. "I'm Arkan, ca-,"

"Temen me!" Salma immediately cut Arkan's words. Let it be now to look at him meaningfully. They are still introductions, not officially engaged. Automatically Arkan has not officially become her future husband. Isn't that what Salma said?

"I'm Rendi," replied Rendi by introducing her name.

"I'm Nala." So did Nala.

"Arkan's not going to teach?" salma asked and reminded Arkan.

"Eh? Oh, aye. Yes, I did say it first. Assalamualaikum!" With a heavy heart Arkan left Salma with his two best friends. This time it was okay for him to give up, there was also Nala. At least that reduces the anxiety a little.

"Glamma!" answer them three compact.

"Where's Sal from? How come I've never seen it?" ask Nala.

"Old victory Na. Okay, don't talk about it. By the way, what are you guys doing here?"

"Nih, the female nemenin sing eats," replied Rendi who was rewarded with a spicy pinch by Nala.

"Yes, just sit here." Salma also invited her two friends to sit at the same table.

When she was about to order, Nala's eyes looked at the leftovers on Salma's table. "Salads? Are you serious Sal? Since when do you like raw vegetables?"

"Emm, that. Just want to try. Hehehe," the perfect alibi was pronounced Salma.

Then the same servant came back to Salma's table. Ask what food Nala and Rendi will order. But before the waiter left, Salma called back to order a meal she had not had time to order with Arkan.

"Huh? Not full?"

"Na is not yet. It's just a vegetable that's full, hehehe."

The three of them also broke into the conversation. Sometimes talking about the job to be applied for, then can switch to talking about the household, after that talking about things that are trending on social media.

"Definitely out each get a job, all immediately busy and there is rarely time to be together rich gini," said Nala with a sad face.

"Huh! Sok-sook made a dramatic melow. If kangen lives the way to the front of the house and also nyampe to my house." Rendi who was still engrossed in sipping her latte chimed in Nala.

"Haishhah! Who would miss the same. It's the same with Salma!" The two women immediately embraced spoiled.

"Yes, if you want to go out together, just talk Na. I'll try to do it later." As usual, Salma wisely responded to Nala and Rendi who were always arguing.

"Hemm," murmured Nala. "Oh yeah, we haven't hungout together in a long time? How about tomorrow night? There's a good movie," he continued.

"Byeah," Salma automatically immediately agreed. True what Nala said, they had not spent a long time together after being busy with their respective thesis and trial.

"Well you see what? Don't want a love movie."

"How about the cartoon?" salma's Advice.

"Hmm, how about watching the anti-mainstream ones? Yuk's horror!"

"Even, watch the horror at the very end of your own fear!" Rendi tapped her finger on Nala's forehead.

"Haish! I'm not scared tomorrow! You dare this!"

"OKAY. Just be careful if you finish watching the night directly call for nemenin stay up late. Oh wow!"

"Udahlah Ren's. Gapapa at all times nurutin Nala," said Salma mediated.

"Hm."

*****

According to the agreement, Nala, Salma, and Rendi are now in one of the shopping centers. About two hours later they were seen coming out of the cinema with deathly pale faces. But among the three of them, Nala was the one who was the most frightened.

"Na? You're nothing, are you?" Raut worry clearly imprinted on the face Salma saw the condition of Nala. A pale face, cold sweat filled his forehead, and his hands trembled slightly.

"Geek!" Nala immediately closed her mouth. Suddenly his stomach felt nauseous. "You guys get to eat first! I'm coming after it!" Nala ran straight to the toilet. Afraid that he'd throw up out of place.

Salma and Rendi who saw that could only shake their heads with Nala's behavior. And according to what Nala said, then the two of them immediately went to the food court to find a lunch menu. When going to enter one of the restaurants that are thick with Javanese nuances, there is a visitor who accidentally hit Salma's shoulder and made him stagger backwards. Lucky Rendi caught him, not so his body kissed the cold mall floor.

The position that when viewed from a certain angle like hugging it instantly made the two of them aware. Fear if anyone sees and misrepresents.

"Astagfireullah! Sorry Ren!"

"Yes. Next time be careful!"

"Hm. Yes, come straight in!" invite the real Salma to try to neutralize the heart beat that is timid.

"okay."

Not long after Nala came and immediately took a seat beside Salma. "Huh! So glad!" nala said while rubbing her stomach.

"Damn! Slovenly!" ketus Rendi's.

"Why can I vomit like that?"

"I can't stand Sal saw the rich sadistic scene earlier. So nauseous."

"Yes, now cepet pesen eat sono! Let's fill his stomach again" said Rendi.

The three of them ended their relationship by having lunch together. Before finally deciding to go home and rest the body. Just as the plate in front of Salma was unresponsive, a message came in on his phone.

From : Arkan

Come home! I want to take you away.

Where is Arkan?

Parklands.

"Na, Ren. I'll go home first!" pamit Salma's.

"Aren't we the same?" tawar Rendi's.

"Now Ren. Thanksmeme it! I've already picked up." Soon Salma cleaned up the stuff. "I'm home! Assalamualaikum!"

"Glamma!"

Sure enough, when he reached the parking lot Salma had seen Arkan standing and leaning on his car. If you look around, Arkan is actually quite handsome, especially he graduates Al Azhar, already well established. But somehow Salma still has not found a reason to accept him as a future husband.

"Have you been waiting a long time?" salma asked as she got into the car.

"Lumayan."

"I'm sorry!"

"It's okay." Salma thinks there's something strange about Arkan's attitude. Why is it cold like this?

"Where are we going, Mom?"

"I'd like to take a look at my new home. Just to give advice if there is less. I had permission to go to your mom."

"Oh."

"Salma, didn't I tell you not to get too close to Rendi?"

Salma turned to Arkan. "You mean what the hell Mas? We're just a department."

"Friendship uses that hugging event." Hearing that made Salma surprised.

"You're following me?"

"No. Didn't see it on purpose."

"If that means you misunderstand. I was about to fall, and Rendi automatically grabbed my body. That's it. Not intentionally hugging either," replied Salma denied Arkan's accusations.

"But still I don't like."

"Mas! We are still at the introductory stage. And I haven't given my answer to Nerima you or not. So please! Please don't act like I'm yours." Finally Salma took out all his pieces starting from yesterday. He can't stand the attitude of Arkan who likes to manage it. Especially those who directly accused him without finding out the truth.

"All right." Arkan refocused on the streets ahead after a while of being fixated on Salma's annoyance. "That means I have to use other means to make you accept me" he murmured softly.

About half an hour later they arrived in front of a large house. When viewed from outside the new house is ready to live. But when Salma went inside, it was then seen that this house was still just finished. A lot of furniture is still wrapped in plastic and has not been laid out.

"Where do you think?" ask Arkan.

"It's been great anyway."

"You don't want to see the main kamr?" bargained again.

"Can." And Salma stepped up the steps leading to the main room.

Open that big room. And the king size bed looks white and in front of it there is a sofa facing towards the big LED tv that has been installed on the wall. Then on the left side there is a cabinet that may later be filled with decorations. Then Salma's eyes saw a small door that he guessed in it was a walk in closet considering in the room there was no wardrobe.

Then his steps towards a large glass door that was closed. The curtain is scattered and a view of residential roofs from above here. "Maybe this balcony you need to add a chair to the table. It's nice to relax," Salma suggested.

Click!

Salma immediately turned around after hearing the sound of the door being locked. He saw Arkan locking the door and walking towards him. Salma gulped roughly looking at him.

"M-mas Arkan, what's the door?"

"Hmm, maybe so that no one bothers us?"

"What do you mean, Mas?" Salma who started to feel bad air immediately ran towards the door and tried to open it. But I can't. The key is already in Arkan's grasp.

"Mas! No need to joke!" Shouted Salma while trying to open the door.

"Handid? I am not kidding Salma. Don't you see that I really love you? Why are you rejecting me?" Slowly but surely Arkan approached towards Salma.

"M-mas Arkan what's going on?"

"You make you no longer be able to reject my proposal!" He cast both hands of Salma violently and put it up, got Salma's body to hit the wall.

"Mas istighfar!"

"You're lucky to have my love. There are many out there begging for my love. Butwhat? You rejected me instead and preferred that snot boy!"

"Please!" Salma no longer heard Arkan's talk. His body tried its best to rebel.

"Deliver? And then baby! Now we're having fun." Next to Arkan's free hand then traced Salma's face. It makes Salma cry. His mouth did not stop to beg Arkan not to do anything to him, and in his heart he was busy praying that God would protect him.

"Mas! Hicks! Lep-us! Release hyks!"

"God! Don't cry dong!"

The cup!

With impudence Arkan kissed Salma's face that was already wet with tears. Salma could only cry out loud. But, suddenly Salma seemed to get the courage to fight. His brain then twisted his wits in order to escape, and he tried to fight back with his free leg to kick Arkan as hard as possible. Arkan who was not ready to receive an attack immediately fell. Not wasting a chance, Salma immediately took the key in Arkan's pocket and walked out of the cursed house.

It was the worst thing Salma had ever experienced. He did not dare to tell anyone. To be sure after home he immediately said his decision to reject Arkan and no longer want to deal with him. Given that, there was one regret when she was already married to Rendi. It was her face that had touched others before her husband. It was as if the humiliation had already taken root in his heart, even to this point he still could not forgive an Arkana Syauqi Fikran.